Improvement in harvesters



4 Sheets-#Sheet 1..

R. HoFFH'EINs. y Harvester Rake.

Patented Nov. 3, 1863.

Re HOFFHEINS.

Harvester Rake.

No. 40,481.- y Patented Nov.'3, 1863.

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Harvester Rake.

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Patented No v.`3,f1863.

NITE-D STATES.

REUBEN HOFFHEINS, OF

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

PATENT erica DOVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 110,48 l, dated November 3, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN HoFFHEINs-,of Dover, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is afrontperspective view of myiniproved machine as arranged for-cutting grain.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same in the forni of a mower. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same as arranged for transporta- Avarious uses of the machine; fourth, in a device for permitting therfngerbeam' to turn freely on its own axis.

In order thatothers skilledin the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use thesame, 1 will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The main frame A A is cast in one piece, in the form represented inFig. 4, the ends being let't disconnected to facilitate casting and to reduce the weight.

B B' are two driving-wheels, adapted to turn on the axle @,but each furnished with a pawl, b, taking. into a. ratchet-wheel, b', on the axle, .so as to impart. rotation thereto when the wheel is turning forward.

b2 represents a spring bearing against the square heel of the pawl b to hold it either in or out of gear in whichever position it may be set. 1

U isthe main gear-wheel on the axle O,

which gears with a piniond,on the transverse shaft D, which carries at its other end a bevelcog wheel, D', gearing with a bevel-pinion, e, ou the crank-shaft E.

E' is the crank-wheel, mounted on the rear end of the shaft E and imparting motion to the cutter F by means of a pi'tman,f, which is provided with a swivehf', formed of a screwthread and nut to permit the rolling of the linger-beam without straining or binding the cutter.

a represents a flange cast Vupon the main frame for the purpose of imparting additional strength thereto, and also protectingthe crankshaft E.'

Gisthefinger-beam,attached atits respective ends to the inner shoe,H, and the outer shoe or divider, H'. The inner shoe, H, is pivoted by its center, at h, to the drag-bar 1 by a universal joint and at its respective ends to guides It' h', which work in vertical dovetail slots formed in pendantst' t' on the drag-bar in such a manner as to brace the beam hori zontally, while permittingit to turn freely on its axis, either for the purpose of conforming` to the undulations ofthe gro-und, to rise over an obstruction, or to be turned up edgewise and carried 'on the machine in manner represented in Fig. 3, the point of the divider H' resting in a staple, if, in the side ofthe tongue K. lhe tongue is attached to the main frame by means of two bolts, 7s', passing through it and through notches or holesjj orjj' at one side of or near the center of the frame, so as to permit the adjustment of the said tongue to a position between the wheels for cutting grain, as illustrated inFig. 1, or on the outside for cutting grass, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In

either position an extension, K', from the tongue affords means for supporting the inner end of the finger-beam. This is effected in the illustration given in Fig. l by a chain, J, rising from the outer end of a rigid arm, J', which projects inward from thebeam, and'in the illustration shown in Fig. 2 by achain, J2, atf tached at its lower end to a staple, h2, in the lateral stay-rod, H2, and at its upper end to a segment-lever, M, fulcrumed at m on the rear end ofthe tongue, so that by raising the said lever the heel of the beam may be raised to any required height. A rack, M', holds the 'leverM in any position in which it may be placed.

hl'represeu ts a track' clearer pivoted in front to the rear of the divider or outer shoe, H'. On the rear end of the inner shoe is formed a lng, h4, for the attachment of the inner side of the segmental grain-platform P. The said platform is secured to the fin ger-beam, at suitable intervals, by straps O and bolts 0.

N represents a caster-wheel secured adjustably to the outer edge of the platform, and employed to carry the same at any desired height. t

Q represents a grain-fender, of sheet iron',

pivoted in front upon the cast-iron dividerH,

. the ri id arm J', so as `to secure the )ost in rigid connection with the platform and canse it to follow all-the motions ofthe latter. The postRis provided at its upper end with a cogged segment, S, and a segmental guideway, s', (see Fig. 5,) by which the revolving rakes are turned and held in the required positons, as will be presently explained.

T is an inverted crown-wheel, provided with avertical shaft, which isjournaled in a box on the upper part of the postR. Rotation is conimunicated to the crown-wheel T 'by an extensible tumblingshaft, U U', of square form, made in two parts, sliding one within the other, so as to assume any length which the positions of the parts .may require, and work equally well in any position. The said extensible tumbling-shaft is connected at its respective ends by universal joints to pinions u u2, the first, u', mounted upon the main frame and gearing with a pinion, n3, on the axleC, and the second, u2, mounted on the post R and gearing with the crownlwheel'T.

The rake or reel arms V V are mounted in pairs upon the ends of horizontal shafts e o', jonrnaled at right angles ,across the top or back of the inverted crown-wheel T. At the junetion of each of the rake or reelarms with the corresponding reel or rake arm, being rigidly secured to the opposite end ofthe same shalt, will be held in-its lower or working position during the same period.

W represents the drivers seat.

Operation: For cutting grain the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. l. The successive rake and reel arms,descending in front of the nger-beam,dellect the grain backward toward the'cutters in customary manner, and the rakes remove the' cut grain in compact gavels from the platform.

The use of the rigid arm J,`projecting inward from the linger-beam and supporting the latter and the attached platform from the rear of the tongue, diminishes the abruptness of the motions ofthe cutting apparatus and platform without restricting their freedom in conform-ing to undulations of the ground. .t

The peculiar devices for transmitting motion to the rake adapt it to act equally well at any height or angle of the platform.

In mowing, the cutters are left perfectly free, but may be raised or lowered by the operator in the manner already explained, the' tongue K being transferred to a position on the outside of the wheel B.

The peculiar construction and attachment V of the inner shoe adapt the linger-beam to roll freely on its axis in use, or to be turned over on its edge and folded compactly against the frame, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to adapt the machine to be moved from place'to place.

The pawl or ratchet connection between the driving-wheels and 4their axle adapt'the machine to he turned or backed with perfect free dom, and also afford ready means for throwing the entire machinery out of gear, which is effected by raising the pawls out of the ratchets, where they will be'held by the springs b2. .The cutting apparatus may be thrown out of gear by moving the transverse shaft D longiludinally by a lever, D2, and providing 4it with'a pin, cl2, which, in one position of the shalt, will lit in a recess in the ,hub of the wheel, so as to impart rotation thereto, and in the other position will perm-it the shaft to turn independently of the wheel. This lever may be moved by the hand or foot ot' the driver.,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ist 1. The main frame and gear-fraineA A, constructed as described, open at each end, when used in combination with shafts, gearing, and

double driving-wheels, arranged and operating substantially as and for thepurposesspecied.

2. The flange a, cast or formed upon the gear -frame for the combined purposes of strengthening the latter and protecting the crankshaft E, as hereinbefore explained.

3. The movable tongue K, adapted to be attached to the frame on either side of the wheel B', and employed to support or raise the in- REUBEN HoFFHEiNs.

Witnesses OoTAVIUs KNIGHT., CHARLES SMITH. 

